Branded or Assembled ?. Review on Branded Vs. Assembled Computers

So many people have asked for reviews on this topic that I couldn't resist writing a few things. I have tried to keep it as simple as possible without any technical jargon.

OK. The big question is should you buy a branded PC or an assembled one?

Before I answer the question, you need to ask a few questions to yourself.

1) What is your'Basic Objective' of buying a PC?

2) How price sensitive are you?

3) Are you weak hearted or strong(!)?

4) Are you extremely brand conscious & give a lot for aesthetics than for performance?

5) Do you have some basic knowldge about how PC works or you are a complete novice?

A PC can be used for various purposes- from basic computing to high-end graphic oriented gaming. You have to first ask why you need a PC and for what purpose you will use it. Do you want the sleekest machine in town, with highest and latest of everything(RAM, Processor Speed and what not), you want to boast to your peers with a smart'Brand' to boast, you are least prioce sensitive, then perhaps you should not read this further and buy a branded PC.

However, if you are a normal person who wants a PC for home computing, not brand conscious or for that matter too much into aesthtitcs and you are looking for a performance machine which is value for money, like me, then you should go for an assembled PC.

Pros of an Assembled PC:

An Assembled PC gives you the freedom to choose whatever configuration you want(Highest computing speed, highest temporarty memory, best graphics card for vivid images etc.). But remember, always ask do you need them really? I have a 40 GB hard disk in my PC while the dealer said  go for a 80GB one - but I didn't need it. Simialrly, I found it illogical to pay extra for a multimedia key-board so I didn't get it tho he tried hard to sell it. But, I got an optical mouse because I felt I need it.

So, assess your need and then decide an optimal combination.

An assembld PC costs around 70% of its branded counterpart(with similar configuration).

An assebled PC is extremely good if you are not afraid of computers as such and have some basic knowdege aboput how a computer works. This is because if some componenet malfunctions, you can repair it yourself or ask your friends to see.

It is much easier to upgrade to newer versions of hardware(say you want a DVD Writer now). You can go, buy it and install it on your own. This is almost impossible in a branded PC and even if it is, it is very costly.

Cons:

Warranty: The warranty on an assembled PC is on the individual parts(components) which make up the PC and not the PC itself in entirety. This is because

unlike a branded PC which is sold by a company(the company provides warranty- sometimes doorstep service, so you just call them and they will come and repair it), in Assembled ones, you need to detach the parts yourself and bring them to the particular company(Say, your CD Writer has a problem, you detach it, take it to the company who manufactured it, say LG, or Samsung etc. and then will repair/replace it, then you again attach it back to your PC)

Looks: Almost all assembled PC's are bad to look at(That's why I said can you compromise on looks for performance). This is because, all the parts in your assembled PC are handpicked by you, and since more often than not, they are made by different companies, they will not look the same in quality of exteriors(color matching for example). Say you have a Sony Floppy Writer, a LG CD Writer. Both are white in color, but their whites won't match exactly, so when you attach

them to your box(CPU), it won't really look great:)

I have given you all possible points that I could think of. Both Pros and cons.

Personally I went for a AMD machine when I bought my PC - this was about 40% cheaper than Intel(I somehow feel how much more will Intel milk the market with really high prices for comparable or maybe lower performnac chips) and overall my PC costed 20k(Comparable configuration branded PC was 32-35 k).

I have not replaced any part till now. I surf the net, play games, download files. The PC works for 3-4 hours everyday and 10 hours on weekends(jncluding night runs for downloads)

So, finally, if you have decided to go for an assembled PC here are my checklists:

1. Preferably, take your'learned' friend with you to buy your PC - if you are a complete novice.

   
   




2. Don't buy in to what the dealer say - evaluate and decide what you want and don't want for your PC

   
   




3. Decide on the processor(AMD or Intel) on your own. I chose AMD because I believe it is equal in performance to Intel and costs 40% lower. Do not trust the dealer if he says go for high speed of processor. You don't need more than 2.4 GHz for almost all decent work.

   
   




4. Remember your RAM decides your PC's ability to process your work faster. Go for higher RAM - preferably 512 MB or higher .

   
   




5. Always choose a compatible'motherboard' for your chosen processor.

   
   




6. Always buy an'inverter'. You don't want your work to get lost right?

   
   

You can choose the other components(Monitor, Mouse, Key board etc) based on your choice. Finally remember, almost all branded PC's have lowered their prices to about 50% of what it was 2 years hence. They could not think about competing with the'Assembled Guys'.

So, check out the price difference for your intended config and before you take your final call.

All the best!